The China-Europe Railway Express has significantly shortened the delivery time for air conditioners to heatwave-affected Europe—from around 40 days by sea to approximately two weeks by rail—bolstering international trade and economic connections, said Liang Linchong, a senior official at the National Development and Reform Commission’s Department of Regional Opening-Up, during a recent press briefing.
Last month, Europe endured a historic heatwave with temperatures soaring over 40°C in several regions. In response to the rising demand for air conditioning units, Chinese manufacturers such as Midea Group and Gree Electric Appliances shifted their logistics from sea freight to rail, cutting delivery times from nearly six weeks down to about 15 days.
The China-Europe Railway Express was established on June 8, 2016, with departures from various Chinese cities including Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhengzhou, Wuhan, Changsha, Suzhou, Dongguan, and Yiwu.
Since its inception, the railway has completed over 130,000 freight trips, transporting goods valued at more than USD 520 billion, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
As of June, the rail service maintained a 100% container utilization rate for 46 months in a row. The outbound and inbound trips nearly balance each other out, indicating a well-adjusted freight flow. This efficiency has greatly enhanced the circulation of goods and fostered industrial cooperation among countries along the route.